Saturday, December 11, 2010

No one knows knitting like Rowan. They produce the yarns you love to cast on and design the patterns you can’t wait to put on. Their worldwide reputation for style, quality, and value makes them the only name you need to know in knitting. Fresh Fashion Knits features the best of Rowan’s Studio Collection, bringing runway trends into knitwear. These designs by Sarah Hatton offer a fashion-conscious knitter a wide range of garment choices and yarn weights to make something for every season and every occasion.

Layer a luxurious chunky cardigan over your favorite jeans. Pair a soft, delicate cardigan over a flowing dress for the perfect summer look. With stylish tops and casually chic sweaters and dresses, this collection will inspire you to make an entire wardrobe of fabulous knit fashions.

Plus, Rowan makes it easy! Not only are these patterns clear and easy to use, but Fresh Fashion Knits gives you the tips and techniques for the best results, no matter what your skill level. The 21 patterns included in this book will have haute couture at your fingertips.

From the author of Country Weekend Knit, Madeline Weston's latest book Country Weekend Socks presents 25 unique designs knitted in sumptuous wool and cotton yarns. The rich textures and soft natural colorways take their cue from the coastline and countryside—big skies, choppy seas and fishing boats, sand dunes, driftwood, and beach pebbles, rolling hills, woodland, and old stone walls, heather, moss and autumn leaves.

Virtually any stitch pattern can be adapted to socks, and the ones featured here come from all corners of the British Isles and beyond. They include multicolored designs from Fair Isle, Turkey, and Egypt; intricate lace and openwork knitting from the Shetland Isles; textured gansey stitches from the east coast of England and theWestern Isles of Scotland; and chunky cable and Aran patterns from the Isles of Aran. Some of these traditional patterns—designs dating from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries —have been re-created by Margaret Stuart and Margaret MacInnes. Others have been reinterpreted by leading designer-knitters, including Sasha Kagan, Debbie Abrahams, and Rita Taylor. Most of the socks are knitted on four double-pointed needles from the top down; the Turkish and Egyptian patterns are knitted from the toe up; while some lace and intarsia designs are knitted on two needles.

With both long and short styles, there are socks for every occasion—to wear with sturdy walking boots, classic tweeds, pretty dresses, and cozy pajamas.

Featuring knitting designs for fashion-conscious stitchers, the scarf patterns in this collection are easy to make and fun to wear. The 14 projects include Slinky, Silky Waves; Wonder and Whimsy; Bryant Park Neckerchief; Pineapple Hearts; and Meanderlust. Most projects can be finished in a couple days or even a few hours and are ideal for on-the-go crafting.

Paying attention to shapes, details, pattern stitches and fibers that work especially well for summer, Deborah Newton presents more than 20 sweaters and accessories to knit. The designs use a variety of cool fibers and blends, from classic cottons/linens/blends and lightweight 'cool-wool' to new 'green' organic and recycled yarns, as well as specialty yarns/blends such as bamboo and soy. Known for her finesse with textured knit stitch patterns and finishing details, Deborah has geared the designs toward a stylish audience, young as well as older, with sporty designs as well as dressy. There are summer cardigans and pullovers; two twin sets (one whisper-weight for hottest days); coordinated family sweaters for man, woman, and child; variations on the indispensable tank top; a tunic worked two ways; a dress; two shawls, and a market bag.

This book is a collection of knitted toy patterns for all ages. Instructions are given for both knitting needles and knitting loom. The patterns included are - A Pair of Bears, Penny Pocket (a doll purse), Fiona the Ursa Fairy, and Seamus, the baby dragon.

Simple Stitches is the needlearts series for the modern beginner, with an explanation of rudimentary techniques plus 25 pretty projects tailored to the first-time stitcher.

Simple Stitches: Knitting provides novices with a stunning collection of fashionable garments and home accessories to make, each one elegant and easy to knit. The projects--all in beautiful, subtly-hued yarns--consist of a cable day bag, scalloped pillow, clothespin bag, and more.

One of today's hottest knitting trends is entrelac, a modular technique that results in striking basketwork designs of rows within rows and interlocking diamond patterns. Using only simple knit and purl stitches, knitters can create eye-catching pieces with incredible texture. Entrelac introduces both the history and how-to of this fun style, along with 20 patterns for a variety of garments, home décor items, and baby accessories. Comprehensive instructions and a wide array of swatches provide endless possibilities in lace, colorwork, and much more.

Knitters like designs to knit that are relatively quick to make yet have interesting patterns. In this book Martin Storey, coauthor of Knitting Goes Large and a top designer for Rowan, offers a range of Nordic-inspired stylish accessories and home items that are based on traditional patterns with a contemporary twist and are small enough to be both easily portable and quick to complete.

The 29 designs range from easy to more challenging—so there's smoething for every knitter to enjoy. Projects include: multi-color hats, legwarmers, and scarves; cabled socks, scarves mittens, and hats; Fair Isle bags, socks, and vest; a cozy shrug, delicate stole, and simple cape, as well as patterned pillows, placemats, and a table runner—all made in natural yarns from Rowan that are cozy and comforting. And all with a clean contemporary Scandinavian look in a soft and beautiful color palette. Featuring beautiful photography and clearly-written patterns, backed up by special knitting tips and techniques, these rich-looking projects are very luxurious, but also practical and easy to make.

One of the reasons knitting and colorwork master Melissa Leapman first learned to knit was her wish to make one special project—a sweater using Fair Isle technique. Now, for the first time, she brings her passion for advanced color knitting to knitters who want to knit with any and every color of yarn they can wrap around their needles.

Conquer classic stranded knitting, “draw” images in yarn using intarsia, and make two projects in one with reversible double knitting. Leapman’s clear instruction proves that knitting with multiple colors may appear more complex, but it doesn’t have to be difficult. She includes the quickest, easiest, and most intuitive methods for each technique, using knowledge honed over years of color knitting workshops with knitters from across the country.

Once you’ve learned the basics, practice your new skills by creating projects for yourself, your friends, and everyone on your gift list. Each chapter includes a handful of sample projects to get you started, a Designer Workshop that teaches you important concepts in every designer’s toolbox, and a pattern treasury of unique patterns to apply to projects of your own creation—more than 50 patterns and 12 projects in all.

Throughout, Leapman’s helpful collection of how-tos, diagrams, tips, and hints (including a refresher course in color theory to help you choose the perfect color combinations) makes Mastering Color Knitting the book you’ll turn to for information and inspiration time and time again.

No one forgets the sweet victory of completing their first knitted block, but most of us quickly move on to more complex constructions, only making swatches for guage. In this comprehensive volume, celebrated designer and innovator Nicky Epstein reimagines the humble block with 150 new patterns and masterfully demonstrates how to mix, match, and easily combine them into stunning one-of-a-kind garments and accessories.

Inside you will find:

•150 original block patterns, from simple textures to embossed pictorials, intricate lace to cables, colorwork, double knit, and more, all with Nicky’s signature wit, verve, and style.•More than ten exclusive project designs that will make you say “I can’t believe that is made out of blocks!”•Detailed guidance for creating exciting pieces out of block knitting, without using increases or decreases.•Exclusive cut-and-paste project design pages. Simply cut out the printed blocks and arrange them to help create your own masterpieces.

Blocks are quick to knit, portable pieces perfect for group and charity projects, and now not limited to just afghans! Knitting Block by Block gives you the tools to unlock a world of creative possibilities and confidently build your own design “blockbusters,” one block at a time.

Do you covet the gorgeous colors of multicolored yarn but have been disappointed by patching, pooling, and other unintended “designs” that develop as they’re knitted?

In The Knitter’s Guide to Hand-Dyed and Variegated Yarn, hand-dyed yarn guru Lorna Miser transforms the experience of working with these beautiful yarns, whether they’ve been dyed by hand or commercially produced.

This informative stitch dictionary includes 10 simple, accessible techniques, 65 stitch patterns, and 20 projects that make the most of the dazzling color combinations and creative possibilities that variegated yarns have to offer.

The spectacular knitted lace designs of New Zealand designer Margaret Stove are truly the pinnacle of the craft. In Wrapped in Lace, dive into Margaret’s love fo learning and creating knitted lace, then begin your own journey to master lace knitting with 12 original patterns.

To appreciate the history of knitted lace, follow Margaret’s quest to design and knit the legendary “wedding ring shawl”—a large lace shawl so fine and delicate that it can be drawn through a wedding ring. Wrapped in Lace shares the art of designing patterns and the characteristics of lace traditions from around the world.

Framed by an engaging narrative of learning to create knitted lace from scratch, Wrapped in Lace describes each set of lace techniques, patterns, and traditions in depth and offers Margaret’s spectacular patterns for lace shawls, stoles, and scarves. These projects illustrate knitted lace from the Faroe Islands, Shetland Islands, Orenburg, Estonia, and lace motifs of New Zealand, as well as more contemporary European work. As an added bonus, Wrapped in Lace includes Margaret’s tips for preserving, restoring, and remaking knitted lace heirlooms.

SynopsisMany people shy away from knitting socks because they are uncomfortable working with double pointed needles. These socks use the "magic" technique - two flat-knit pieces are joined together as the second piece is worked. Patterns include children's tube socks and adult sized socks (S-XL) in various lengths. Instructions are given for both knitting needles and knitting loom.

Now that crocheters have discovered how comfy crocheted socks can be, they're hooked! To keep up with the demand, this follow-up to the popular Crocheted Socks! presents an all-new collection of 16 appealing patterns.• Enjoy both toe-up and cuff-down designs• Indulge in those wonderful new sock yarns your toes are just waiting to cozy up to• Create crocheted socks that feel every bit as luxurious as knitted socks

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Knitting socks on a 12" circular needle

A friend from my knitting group found online sock directions using a 12" circular needle. She says the directions are very clear for a beginning sock maker. The web address is:http://spinfree.tripod.com/socks/